A caravan of black vehicles trailed the street before blending with the mechanical noise. The group was inconspicuous due to a concealing skill from one of the items discovered by a candidate who was gracious enough to sell it to the highest bidder. Camouflaging into the bustling parade of cars that took their time in traffic, while a certain somebody's temper continued to be tested.

  Inside the car's interior showed all manners of modernity. Leather chairs for extravagance, a wine holder for those with refined taste, and even weapon compartments were included, fit to arm the driver and his guests if the need arose. For the common eye, they could see a van that families used for travelling occasions. But for those that held any familiarity with mana, they could perceive the elegance of the black limousine that was enhanced with defensive runes for any troublesome encounters. Sheltering two individuals who were in the middle of their bickering.

  Ryn stared outside the window. Her legs crossed, her forehead creased, she refused to believe the statement coming from Viktor's side, which was an understandable verdict. "You really believe everything that kid said?"

  Viktor's eyes remained fixed on the logs he wrote on his digital pad. His voice was cold with stability. "Yes. I do believe he would not gain anything from being dishonest."

  "I've seen people lie for less."

  "Did you now…" Viktor answered, letters reflecting on his gray pupils. "Well, the matter will be settled once we arrive. I hope it won't be a spectacle like last year."

  Ryn pouted. She was displeased from the trust her senior was willing to give. But knew that once he had made his mind, it was almost impossible to convince him. She then crossed her arms in rebellion. "That kid won't last you know… He'll just die after another delve."

  "It's not like you to be worried with strangers Ms. Stellar. Do you find him fancy?"

  "BAH! As if…" Ryn barked from the notion. "He's 4000 years too early to even lick my boots. I just don't want to deal with the paperwork after he gets wiped."

  "Well, try not to be too harsh on the young man," Viktor suggested. Parting his flowing hair to his ears, swiping upward to check any records that might relate to his search. Suddenly his fingers went to a pause.

  "Found something?" Ryn asked. Her eyes drifting outside, seeing the many buildings that they hurriedly passed by.

  Viktor continued his research. And upon closer inspection, discovered something that did not correlate with Stellan's statements.

  Candidate_PWNstar69 [ Gold 3-Star ★★★ ]

  → Location found ←

  He gasped for air. When his consciousness finally burst to life his eyes hurriedly aimed towards the light that forced him to close them again. He was strapped to a chair, legs and arms bound in a helpless state. With all this transpiring, voices beside him continued to echo in a shadowy motion.

  "V..al… C….ck"

  "Sys… Nd…"

  The ringing did not want to stop. His ears failed to catch the words that were being uttered in the cold air. But it only took him a while to settle until he could understand what the voices were calling for.

  "Open your eyes…"

  "Your mouth…"

  "Dental activity seems to be in order."

  "One final confirmation…"

  "Do you know who you are?"

  Stellan felt his saliva was dried up. Making him wet the insides of his mouth by twirling his tongue before gulping a good portion of it before speaking. "Castellan. Castellan Moss," he answered. Closing his eyes once more, unable to bear the direct casting of the operational lights.

  "And your candidate I.D?"

  "My what?"

  “Your candidate identifaction?”

  "Does he not understand or is he…?"

  "He's a rogue candidate, so I'm sure he doesn't…"

  "The thing that acts as your username!" The voice tried to exclaim. Stellan had a vague understanding of what they were asking but held back from the lack of information.

  "I hope that works. I mean the younger generations use that term right?"

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "Maybe we should call the Intercepting Department, see if he can–"

  Out of the blue, a familiar voice rang inside the medical room. It was commanding and a bit pompous coming from a voice that was meant to soothe. Barking at Stellan who was still feigning unconsciousness. "The fuck are you doing kid!? ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!"

  She continued to tantrum from behind the mic until one of the employees forced her to give up her control temporarily. "WE apologize. Please continue with the mandatory screening."

  Said the apologetic male voice, while Ryn's protesting still ensued until it cut off entirely.

  "Whoa! an Adjudicator was observing? This guy must be a big shot."

  "Let's just hurry it up. I don't want to be yelled at if we do a sloppy job."

  Stellan, who had a rough idea who made a scene, opened his eyes. Meeting the gaze of the practitioners that were checking his vitals to see if there was any tampering done to his body.

  "It's Dandy628," he answered, his cheeks flushing slightly from the awkwardness of its pronunciation.

  The practitioners cast their eyes on one another and subtly nodded in understanding. They then hurriedly removed the clasps that bound Stellan's limbs, locks of tight leather quickly released, giving him his original range of motion.

  But it felt odd. Something was wrong.

  It feels rather chilly.

  He thought. Soon the answer showed itself the moment he turned his neck downward to see that he was fully bare. A moment where he couldn't grumble his displeasure seeing that the practitioners paid no mind.

  "You're free to go. Do you remember who will be your guardian?" said one of the practitioners. His face and body were covered in contamination gear, a bit of an overkill, Stellan thought. But soon he'd learn that there were cases from candidates that returned with unidentified diseases and elements, which he'd encounter one day.

  Stellan put on a plain white shirt and a comfy pair of cotton shorts that ended on his upper knee, tugging the hem before looking up. "Guardian?" he asked.

  "They didn't assign you one?"

  "Not that I know of, no…"

  The man who seemed to lead the group of medical practitioners sighed. Touching his chin to gather a trail of thought until he found one. "Well, you should stay here. I'll contact the Security Depar–"

  However, his trail of thought would have to be postponed when the door that served as the barrier outside flung open in a forceful bash. Surprising the souls of the people in the room, Stellan included.

  Ryn was already infuriated for being assigned as Stellan's guardian, and she wasn't known for being the patient type either. Strutting towards the startled man with a nasty scowl, grabbing his shirt's collar in the process. "Taking your sweet time princess!?"

  Stellan answered with how he responded from their first encounter. Both arms raised in yielding while he tried to avoid looking at her alluring openings. "They were just asking who will be my guardian!" he responded.

  "Talking back are ya?!" She slammed him. Making him roll on the cold floor before gathering his bearings.

  "I was assigned as your guardian hours ago!"

  Stellan raised his head from crouching on the floor. "Nobody told me!"

  "I told you!" Ryn reprimanded. Raising her fist that made Stellan wince and raise both of his palms for defending.

  "No you didn't!"

  "I didn't?"

  "No…" Stellan answered with a whimper.

  Ryn was about to smack him once more. But stopped when a memory returned. "What was the last thing you remember?"

  "I… wait…" Stellan stared at his palms, trying to dig through his memory, but it was unsuccessful. All he could recollect in his mind were patches of black. "I don't remember anything."

  The red-haired ruffian laced her glare with a killing intent.

  I guess Viktor wanted to play it safe.

  It wasn't mandatory to wipe someone's memory, it was a meticulous process that exhausted too much mana. So the process was only reserved for high-profile candidates which were handpicked by the Association itself.

  Of course Viktor was a different case.

  He held a high enough position that made his judgment called for in specific scenarios. It also helped that he was a purple grade, one of the three candidates in the main branch who were active in service. A simple memory wipe would suffice when it came to withholding information. Although Ryn was curious why her senior would waste such an extravagant spell over someone they had just met.

  "Forget about it. Come outside with me. I'll show you around," she barked. Grabbing Stellan by the collar, almost tearing it as he was helpless from her grip.

  The spectacle drew hearty chuckles from the onlookers. Except one person, who resigned to make himself secluded. Searching for a better opportunity to make contact.

  Every corner of the vast modern space that seemed endless was bright. Different glass chambers withholding artifacts and vegetation were lined in a picturesque array, labeled with jargons. Employees in lab coats continued their observing. There were multiple vault doors cladded with the thickest of steels, and guards donning armor that screamed innovation serving as security, while they clutched weapons that made military grades look like props.

  Stellan was in awe. He could have seen more if not for the grip Ryn had on his neck, trudging him behind her while eyes ignored them as if they were invisible.

  It took more steps and the last of his breath before he tapped in a frenzy on the solid arm. Demanding his release. "P-plea…" He was choking, in a few more seconds he would pass out. Fortunately, Ryn caught wind and released him. Making him fall on his knees in a desperate siphoning of air, while the reddened handmarks on his throat chose to stay, the skin already bruising.

  "You're such a wuss. Get up and walk. I ain't got all day," Ryn ordered. Clicking her tongue as she tapped her crossed arms in a rhythm.

  Stellan gorged whatever air he could acquire but it wasn't enough. Tears formed from the manhandling. He was by far bigger than his fiery captor, a biological fact that still remained unchanged up until this day. But for some reason, he felt overpowered time and time again. Add to the fact that his strength felt like it was being sapped from his limbs.

  "W-where are we? Where are you taking me?" Stellan asked, air still lacking in his throat.

  "I'm leading you to where you'll be staying for the rest of your pathetic life," Ryn dismissed.

  "What?"